Saturn on Egret looks washed

[antron]

My US Saturn is connected to my Egret 29" (Nanao) via RGB. The image is sharp, but sort of washed out. I had a PC connected to it before, and it looked much brighter. I had to turn the brightness up until just before I loose black blacks to get the best picture, but it is still a little washed looking.

Any ideas?

[DC906270]

bit off topic, but would you mind letting me know what you use to hook your saturn up to your cab via jamma?

[rtw]

My US Saturn is connected to my Egret 29" (Nanao) via RGB. The image is sharp, but sort of washed out. I had a PC connected to it before, and it looked much brighter. I had to turn the brightness up until just before I loose black blacks to get the best picture, but it is still a little washed looking.

Any ideas?

What is the level of your RGB ? VGA levels ?

rtw

[neorichieb1971]

Try to be more specific about what "washed out" means!

PCB's are generally much brighter than consoles. I assume you have adjusted the RGB pots on the cabinet?

[dpful]

I have that cab, and my monitor is much more sensetive to input than my other monitors. My saturn looks great on my other monitor and kind of light on the nanao. Also, some of my PCB's have the same problem on that monitor. I just adjust the pots all the time.

You can adjust the contrast by messing with the rgb gain pots also.

[elvis]

My US Saturn is connected to my Egret 29" (Nanao) via RGB. The image is sharp, but sort of washed out. I had a PC connected to it before, and it looked much brighter. I had to turn the brightness up until just before I loose black blacks to get the best picture, but it is still a little washed looking.

Any ideas?

I'd try the old "220uF cap" trick to boost the colour signals up a bit:

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat1.html

[D]

Leave rgb and rgb gain alone, just mess with contrast and brightness.

[antron]

bit off topic, but would you mind letting me know what you use to hook your saturn up to your cab via jamma?

saturn scart cable soldered directly to a jamma fingerboard

[antron]

Try to be more specific about what "washed out" means!

PCB's are generally much brighter than consoles. I assume you have adjusted the RGB pots on the cabinet?

it is just not very bright. like a t-shirt that was washed too many times
yes, I optimised the pots the best I could

[antron]

Leave rgb and rgb gain alone, just mess with contrast and brightness.

by contrast, do you mean the RGB pots?

I see R,G,B,brightness,geometry, and sync pots.

[antron]

My US Saturn is connected to my Egret 29" (Nanao) via RGB. The image is sharp, but sort of washed out. I had a PC connected to it before, and it looked much brighter. I had to turn the brightness up until just before I loose black blacks to get the best picture, but it is still a little washed looking.

Any ideas?

I'd try the old "220uF cap" trick to boost the colour signals up a bit:

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat1.html

hmmmm...
I thought that was for PS2s. OK.

[DC906270]

saturn scart cable soldered directly to a jamma fingerboard

what about the controls?

[antron]

saturn scart cable soldered directly to a jamma fingerboard

what about the controls?

now we are really getting off topic. hacked gamepads.

[rtw]

Back on topic...

You need this to boost your signals.

http://www.ultimarc.com/vidamp.html

rtw

[dpful]

Leave rgb and rgb gain alone, just mess with contrast and brightness.

by contrast, do you mean the RGB pots?

I see R,G,B,brightness,geometry, and sync pots.

I don't think that that monitor has a contrast pot. You've got to adjust both the rgb pots (the posts as well as the philips ones), and also the brightness pot to get proper contrast.

Also, check that ultimarc video amp, It might only work on 1v computer rgb signals (I don't know). I have one of those- tried it on a dim pcb, and it overdid the picture into a black mess. I know my saturn worked on my other monitor, so maybe it's got to much signal for that amp to use?

[ReKleSS]

Also, check that ultimarc video amp, It might only work on 1v computer rgb signals (I don't know). I have one of those- tried it on a dim pcb, and it overdid the picture into a black mess. I know my saturn worked on my other monitor, so maybe it's got to much signal for that amp to use?

Scart signals are compatible with VGA as long as you fix up the sync. The voltage shouldn't be a problem.

[elvis]

I'd try the old "220uF cap" trick to boost the colour signals up a bit:

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat1.html

hmmmm...
I thought that was for PS2s. OK.

SCART is SCART is SCART, dude. PS2 doesn't have magically different RGB SCART to Saturn's RGB SCART, otherwise they would both look different on RGB SCART TV's, wouldn't they.

Back on topic...

You need this to boost your signals.

http://www.ultimarc.com/vidamp.html

rtw

An RGB amplifier is the more technically correct way to boost RGB signals. The 220uF cap trick gives you much the same result, but isn't as technically clean as making/buying a proper amplifier.

[Radiant]

Edit: Just saw it's a Egret 1.... ....and IIRC Nanao MS8 don't have a contrast pot

[rtw]

If the monitor works with arcade PCB's there should be no
need to touch any of the RGB pots or the G2.

The signal level out of the Saturn is too low. Typically the
SCART RGB signal is 0.7V at 75ohm.

However my arcade monitor can handle up to 4V at 1Kohm.

I use the ultimarc video amp on my PS2.

Could you supply is with a picture illustrating the effect.

rtw

[antron]

I'd try the old "220uF cap" trick to boost the colour signals up a bit:

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat1.html

hmmmm...
I thought that was for PS2s. OK.

SCART is SCART is SCART, dude. PS2 doesn't have magically different RGB SCART to Saturn's RGB SCART, otherwise they would both look different on RGB SCART TV's, wouldn't they.

I guess I should have said that my SCART cable used to be a SCART cable until I cut off the SCART connector. For PS2s the connector contains the caps, where with the Saturn it does not.

edit: the coupling capacitor is already in the Saturn
http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/ ... htm#saturn

[saturn] RGB output circuit: signal comes out a CXA1645 through a 75 ohm resistor and a coupling cap.

also:
http://www.hardwarebook.info/Sega_Saturn_A/V

a thought:
Perhaps I need to open the saturn and reduce the value of those resistors?

[MKL]

also:
http://www.hardwarebook.info/Sega_Saturn_A/V

a thought:
Perhaps I need to open the saturn and reduce the value of those resistors?

Those are on the outputs of the encoder and the RGB levels are in any case too low. To do it properly you would need to bypass the encoder entirely and tap RGB before it goes into the encoder (there will be resistors and caps on the inputs too).

[antron]

I don't think that that monitor has a contrast pot. You've got to adjust both the rgb pots (the posts as well as the philips ones), and also the brightness pot to get proper contrast.

This did it. I had adjusted the posts, and they were not maxed out, so I didn't change the recessed metal philips ones thinking they were for course adjustment. I was wrong. Both are required.

Thanks everyone!

by the way, what are these two adjustments called?

EDIT: offset and gain i believe

[I'm Alec]

Back on topic...

You need this to boost your signals.

http://www.ultimarc.com/vidamp.html

rtw

just fyi, this rgb amp doesn't work with the saturn (at least not in my experience) dreamcast looks great though. (works on an Astro City and a Neo Candy 25, couldn't get it working on an egret 2 or awsd though)